Brake blocks

Abstract

There is disclosed a brake block for a bicycle which comprises a block of friction material, an elongate rigid brake shoe element fixed to the block, the ends of the brake shoe element being surrounded by the friction material, and means for securing the block in a braking mechanism. Also disclosed are methods of making brake blocks for bicycles. One method comprises locating an elongate rigid brake shoe element in a mould, the shoe element having fixed thereto a stud for securing the block in a brake mechanism, moulding a block of friction material around the shoe element so that the end portions of the shoe element are surrounded by the friction material and removing the brake block so formed from the mould. Another method comprises coating a channel sectioned elongate rigid brake shoe element with a bonding medium, non-rotatably assembling a stud in said shoe element, locating the assembly in a mould, moulding a block of friction material around the shoe element so that the end portions of the shoe element are surrounded by the friction material, and removing the brake block so formed from the mould.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A brake member for engaging the wheel rim of a bicycle, comprising: a generally T-shaped brake shoe having a straight rigid elongate cross-piece and having a rigid stem non-rotatably connected to said cross-piece and being adapted to secure the brake member in a braking mechanism; an elongate block of friction material molded around and bonded to said cross-piece so that substantially the entire cross-piece is securely embedded in and supports that part of said block nearer said stem; and wherein said stem comprises a generally cylindrical piece of metal, an external screw-thread extending from its free end over at least the greater part of its length, and a V-notch being provided across the surface of the other end thereof; and said cross-piece being in the form of a cylindrical metal rod lying at its central region in said V-notch of said other end of said stem, and being welded thereat to said stem, whereby the remainder and greater part of said block is available for use as a brake block by repeated application of the face thereof remote from said stem to said wheel rim. 
     
     
       2. A brake member as set forth in claim 1 in which said cross-piece and said stem are integral. 
     
     
       3. A brake member for engaging the wheel rim of a bicycle, comprising: a generally T-shaped brake shoe having a straight rigid elongate cross-piece and a rigid stem non-rotatably connected thereto to form a unitary one-piece assembly, and being adapted to secure the brake member in a braking mechanism; an elongate block of friction material molded around and bonded to said cross-piece so that substantially the entire cross-piece is securely embedded in and supports that part of said block nearer said stem; and wherein said stem comprises a generally cylindrical piece of metal, an external screw-thread extending from its free end over at least the greater part of its length, and a V- notch being provided across the surface of the other end thereof; and said cross-piece being in the form of a cylindrical metal rod lying at its central region in said V-notch of said other end of said stem, and being welded thereat to said stem, whereby the remainder and greater part of said block is available for use as a brake block by repeated application of the face thereof remote from said stem to said wheel rim.